RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 21 



head in these coffins, as they were called by our 

 ancestors ; and if this relation is looked upon not 

 as a resemblance, but as an analogy, it is in 

 perfect accordance with truth. The experiments of 

 Goedartius obviously led the way to those of Redi, 

 on the generation of insects*, published also in 

 three small volumes in different years. On the 

 value of their contents we know but little ; for the 

 work is not now before us. Nor is this to be 

 regretted, for both these names were eclipsed by 

 one who was then labouring in the same field of 

 analysis ; but gifted, in every respect, with far 

 greater talents. This was the celebrated Swammer- 

 dam, who died, at the early age of forty-three, a 

 worn-out martyr to laborious study. The limits of 

 this sketch will not permit us to expatiate on the 

 life and discoveries of this extraordinary man. Suf- 

 fice it to say, that the lapse of nearly one hundred 

 and fifty years has in no degree weakened the value 

 of his anatomical discoveries ; and that so far as his 

 researches were prosecuted, he has not been ex- 

 celled by the greatest comparative anatomists of 

 modern times. All the great truths on the meta- 

 morphosis of insects originated from this laborious 

 and indefatigable observer, who was unquestionably 

 the master and the guide of Lyonnet, Roemer, 

 Bonnet, and all those who subsequently pursued the 

 same path. Swammerdam, in short, was the great 

 father of analysis, as Aristotle was of philosophic 

 generalisation ; and although their excellencies are 



* Francesco Redi. Experimenta circa Generationera In- 

 sectorum. Amstelodami, 167 , 1 68 6, 1712. 

 C 



